Psychological Well-being Of Individuals Research Articles

‘Dazed and Confused!’ Context and Social Disconnect in the Time of Pandemic

AbstractHumans are social animals. Our sense of identity and ‘self’ is defined in part by the roles we perform in the social groups to which we belong. This article discusses some of the variables that contribute to our sense of self, including language, place of origin, education and shared social norms. It also outlines some of the general mechanisms that underpin our various social networks. In its final part, this article reviews the impact of social isolation, such as that happened during the COVID pandemic, on these social mechanisms and the resulted disruption of psychological wellbeing in individuals diagnosed with dementia.

Predictors of financial satisfaction and its impact on psychological wellbeing of individuals

PurposeIn this study, the author examines the effect of financial knowledge, financial attitude and responsible financial management behaviour on financial satisfaction and investigates the association between financial satisfaction and psychological wellbeing of individuals. The author examines these relationships having controlled for the influence of key demographic variables including age, gender, marital status, income level and employment status of respondents on the predicted relationships.Design/methodology/approachData was gathered by means of a self-administered questionnaire to postgraduate business students from a large public university in Ghana. The hypothesized relationships of the study were tested using the Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) technique.FindingsThe author shows from the structural model analysis using the bootstrapping procedure that financial knowledge, financial attitude and sound financial management behaviour have important implications on financial satisfaction levels of individuals. Further, the author finds financial satisfaction to be an important predictor of the psychological wellbeing of individuals.Practical implicationsThe paper highlights the relevance of financial satisfaction on the psychological wellbeing of an individual and identifies some of the dominant factors that are associated with financial satisfaction.Originality/valueThis study examines the concept of financial satisfaction at the individual level and uniquely highlights the psychological implications of financial satisfaction.

Unifying Sustainable Development Goals: How Cultural and Creative Engagement are the Missing Links to Advancement

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) named 2021 as the Year of the Creative Economy. While symbolically significant, the designation does a disservice to Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs) by dismissing their intrinsic and societal value. It also perpetuates a myth that these industries have economic viability as their sole contribution for advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). By triangulating psychological underpinnings, established methodologies, and recommendations from leading organizations this paper challenges the contemporary siloed assumption of CCIs advancement through commodification alone. It has been shown that exposure to culture and creativity is vital for psychological well-being in individuals and society, while simultaneously eliciting abilities to garner new perspectives towards issues such as the climate crisis. These characteristics are fundamental for advancing sustainable development at broader levels and there are numerous underpinnings within the UN SDGs that corroborate the need to move beyond antiquated ways of doing and thinking. By looking at recommendations through the lenses of well-being and new perspectives, it is possible to create a roadmap that strengthens the 2030 Agenda by utilizing intrinsic values and practices from the CCIs.

An undermined therapeutic alliance: A case study

Seeking help and assistance can prove to be a frustrating experience for intersex individuals: physicians and psychologists can be misinformed about variations of sex characteristics (VSC) and their practice may have a detrimental effect on the physical and psychological wellbeing of individuals with VSC. This paper focuses on how previous negative experiences, such as early genital cosmetic surgery and unaware clinical management, could negatively affect psychotherapeutic relationships. Its principal aims are to: 1) identify which elements in clinical management of VSC may cause difficulties in building a therapeutic alliance and 2) identify which elements may promote the construction and reinforcement of the therapeutic alliance, even when a patient’s trust has been damaged by previous negative experiences. In order to explore the psychotherapeutic process with specific regard to the building of the therapeutic alliance, we report a case study whose subject is a 32-year-old man who sought legal advice for his sex reassignment process and began a brief supportive psychotherapeutic treatment. Roberto, the subject of this study, was born with VSC, was assigned the female gender and underwent genital surgery at birth. In his early childhood, he developed a male gender identity. Whenever Roberto reflected on the genital surgery that he had undergone at birth, anger and frustration pervaded his psychotherapy sessions and made it difficult to build a therapeutic alliance. However, it was possible to support Roberto in redirecting these negative affects, helping him to process them, build a therapeutic alliance, and benefit from a positive and trusting therapeutic relationship.

General Public Perception of Social Media, Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic, and Related Misconceptions.

This research aimed at investigating the general public perception of social media (SM), impact of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, and related misconceptions among the Pakistani population. Cross-sectional study conducted during the peak of COVID-19 in Pakistan between May and June, 2020 comprised of 2307 Pakistani male and female participants. Subjects under 18 years of age and nationality other than Pakistani were excluded. An online questionnaire was administered via the Internet using various kinds of social media. The study was comprised of 2307 male and female participants; 2074 (89.90%) used SM for seeking COVID-19 information, 450 (20%) used both Facebook (FB) and WhatsApp (WA), and 267 (11.6%) used FB, WA, Twitter, and Instagram. Respondents' perceptions showed that: 529 (23%) believed in SM information and 1564 (67.8%) stated that COVID-19 affected their social and mental wellbeing. Respondents' knowledge revealed that: 1509 (65.40%) had poor knowledge (≤ 50% score), and 798 (34.6%) had good knowledge (> 50% score) (P < 0.001) about COVID-19. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that higher-earning positively correlated, while private jobs were negatively associated, with good knowledge. FB and WA were the 2 common social media used by study participants (a third had good knowledge). COVID-19 affected the social, mental, and psychological well-being of individuals. Good knowledge was greater in individuals with higher earning and less with private job involvements.

Phenome-wide analysis highlights putative causal relationships between self-reported migraine and other complex traits

BackgroundMigraine is a complex neurological disorder that is considered the most common disabling brain disorder affecting 14 % of people worldwide. The present study sought to infer potential causal relationships between self-reported migraine and other complex traits, using genetic data and a hypothesis-free approach.MethodsWe leveraged available summary statistics from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of 1,504 phenotypes and self-reported migraine and inferred pair-wise causal relationships using the latent causal variable (LCV) method.ResultsWe identify 18 potential causal relationships between self-reported migraine and other complex traits. Hypertension and blood clot formations were causally associated with an increased migraine risk, possibly through vasoconstriction and platelet clumping. We observed that sources of abdominal pain and discomfort might influence a higher risk for migraine. Moreover, occupational and environmental factors such as working with paints, thinner or glues, and being exposed to diesel exhaust were causally associated with higher migraine risk. Psychiatric-related phenotypes, including stressful life events, increased migraine risk. In contrast, ever feeling unenthusiastic / disinterested for a whole week, a phenotype related to the psychological well-being of individuals, was a potential outcome of migraine.ConclusionsOverall, our results suggest a potential vascular component to migraine, highlighting the role of vasoconstriction and platelet clumping. Stressful life events and occupational variables potentially influence a higher migraine risk. Additionally, a migraine could impact the psychological well-being of individuals. Our findings provide novel testable hypotheses for future studies that may inform the design of new interventions to prevent or reduce migraine risk and recurrence.

Intangible cultural heritage: a benefit to climate-displaced and host communities

Climate change is borderless, and its impacts are not shared equally by all communities. It causes an imbalance between people by creating a more desirable living environment for some societies while erasing settlements and shelters of some others. Due to floods, sea level rise, destructive storms, drought, and slow-onset factors such as salinization of water and soil, people lose their lands, homes, and natural resources. Catastrophic events force people to move voluntarily or involuntarily. The relocation of communities is a debatable climate adaptation measure which requires utmost care with human rights, ethics, and psychological well-being of individuals upon the issues of discrimination, conflict, and security. As the number of climate-displaced populations grows, the generations-deep connection to their rituals, customs, and ancestral ties with the land, cultural practices, and intangible cultural heritage become endangered. However, intangible heritage is often overlooked in the context of climate displacement. This paper presents reflections based on observations regarding the intangible heritage of voluntarily displaced communities. It begins by examining intangible heritage under the threat of climate displacement, with place-based examples. It then reveals intangible heritage as a catalyst to building resilient communities by advocating for the cultural values of indigenous and all people in climate action planning. It concludes the discussion by presenting the implications of climate displacement in existing intangible heritage initiatives. This article seeks to contribute to the emerging policies of preserving intangible heritage in the context of climate displacement.

Covid Lockdown Impact on Type 1 Diabetes Health and Well-Being

Introduction: Data on the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on glycemic control and psychological well-being in individuals with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) showed mixed results. Some studies showed improvement in glycemic control attributed to more time for self-care and a more regular lifestyle schedule during the lockdown. However, most published data reflects a short duration of 3–5 months. The impact of long-term social isolation and transition to telemedicine on the health of T1DM patients remains unknown. Our study analyzes patient perception surrounding the impact of an 11-month lockdown on glycemic control, well-being, and self-reported depression symptoms. Methods: PHQ-9 was integrated into a 55-question survey created using RedCap, a secure portal for managing surveys. The survey was sent to 160 T1DM patients over the age of 18 to gauge their current diabetes management and overall well-being prior to, and during the pandemic. The survey also inquired about patients’ perceived effectiveness of telemedicine visits. PHQ9 scores were collected and analyzed along with survey responses. Results: Data collection is still ongoing. From the 47 responders, the PHQ9 screening showed 51% were in the minimal depression score, 34% in the range of mild depression, 11% in moderate depression, and 4% scored in moderate to severe depression. No patients scored within severe depression. In a regular week during the pandemic, 40% of patients experienced difficulty with their motivation and diabetes management and 60% reported no concern, as compared to 36% and 64% respectively before the pandemic. Among the 47 of patient respondents, 30 reported both A1c levels prior and during the pandemic of which 46% showed an improved A1c amid the pandemic, 10% had no change, and 44% reported a worsened A1c level. For the telehealth part of the survey, 90% of patients reported feeling “comfortable with the level of care” they receive via telemedicine, whereas the other 10% were not. Whilst 54% of patients preferred in-person visits and 46% indicated a preference for telehealth visits. Conclusion: T1DM management is challenging. The pandemic adds to the complexity and burden to both self-management and healthcare delivery. Staying locked down for a prolonged period of time imposes economical, psychological, and medical constraints to diabetes care, as nearly half of the patients reported worsening of glycemic control. Our comprehensive survey reports the longest duration reported up to date of how the COVID-19 lockdown impacts patient’s perceived changes in their mental health and diabetes management. It helps clinicians understand the connection between mental and physical health during the pandemic and improve time-restricted telehealth visits by understanding patient concerns. Additional larger scale studies are imperative to expand the knowledge in this field.

Oral Health Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Among School Children in Abha-Saudi Arabia.

Oral health is a very critical component of individuals' physical and psychological well-being. The present study aimed to investigate the dental health knowledge, attitude, and practice among schoolchildren in Abha. A cross-sectional epidemiological study was conducted. Each student completed a questionnaire regarding oral health. The participants were 800 students: 54.8% were male and 45.2% were female. Knowledge scores showed that -59.1% of the participants have fair knowledge. Statistically significant results were found between the age, school type, and students' educational level with the knowledge of oral health care (p < .05). More than half of the participants had positive attitudes (57.2%) and less than half demonstrated satisfactory oral health habits (45.3%). Students' educational level was significantly associated with attitudes and practices (p < .05). It can be concluded that the average knowledge, attitude, and practice level was 53.9%, which is not a positive indicator and needs to be strengthened.

Investigating the Relationship between Work-family Enrichment and Psychological Well-being: The Mediating Role of Meaningful Work.

Competitive pressures and dynamic workplaces have presented individuals with numerous challenges at the work place. Work seems more like a necessity and lacks passion and purpose and meaning. Moreover, unemployment rates in developing countries force individuals to take up work in which they are not even interested. The present study investigated the effect of work to family enrichment (WFE) on psychological well-being of individuals through the mediating role of meaningful work based on the assumptions of spillover theory. Resources acquired at work enrich individual’s family life which make work look more meaningful and in turn has positive consequences for psychological health of an individual. The unit of analysis for this study was individuals working in various banks of Pakistan. Data were collected from 215 full time bankers working in public and private banks of Pakistan. Banking industry was chosen in part due to its complex nature and further because of the lucrative incentives and training and development it offers to individuals working for these banks. Data were analyzed using model 4 given in PROCESS MACRO based on bootstrapping which is considered one of the best techniques for mediation analysis. Results supported all the hypotheses of this study. Based on the findings of this study, it was concluded that work should be designed in such a way that it enriches the family life of individuals, this creates a purpose and meaning in work and has positive consequences for the psychological health of individuals. Keywords: Work-Family Enrichment, Meaningful Work, Psychological Well-Being, Spillover Theory.

Communication During a Pandemic

Partnering with a major telecommunications company, we field communication interventions that provide mobile calling credits to a nationally representative set of low-income adults in Ghana during the COVID-19 pandemic. Individuals’ inability to make unexpected calls, the need to borrow SOS airtime unexpectedly, and to seek digital loans decreased remarkably relative to a control group. As a result, the programs led to a significant decrease in mental distress (-9.8%) and the likelihood of severe mental distress by -2.7 percentage points (quarter the mean prevalence), with null impact on consumption expenditure. Poverty, informality, and lockdown effects are likely operative channels of impacts.

A dyadic study of psychological well-being of individuals with Parkinson\u2019s disease and their caregivers

Parkinson's disease (PD) is an incapacitating neurodegenerative disease. Patients with PD and their caregivers may have interactive effects on each other’s psychological well-being. This study aimed to assess the dyadic dynamics of resilience, fatigue, and suicidal ideation on the depression severity of PD patients and their caregivers. In total, 175 PD patients and 175 caregivers were recruited at a medical center from August 2018 to May 2020. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to examine the actor/partner effects on the psychological well-being of both the PD patients and their caregivers. The most common psychiatric diagnoses of both the PD patients (28.6%) and their caregivers (11.4%) were depressive disorders. The PD patients’ and their caregivers’ fatigue, suicidal ideation, and lack of resilience were significantly associated with the severity of their depression, respectively. Interactive effects existed between psychological well-being of individuals with PD and their caregivers. Clinicians must be aware of, and manage, these contributing factors between PD patients and their caregivers in order to prevent them from worsening each other’s depression.

Kesesakan sebagai Prediktor Kesejahteraan Psikologis: Studi di Kampung Biru Arema Kota Malang

Every human who lives in the world has aspirations for prosperity in his life. This well-being is not only materially, but also psychological well-being. However, the increasing density of the physical environment will potentially lead to the perception of crowding and have an impact on the psychological well-being of individuals. This study aims to investigate the effect of distress on psychological well-being in the community in Kampung Biru Arema Malang. This study uses a quantitative correlational design with regression analysis to determine the effect of the crowding variable on the psychological well-being variable. Respondents selected as samples in this study were 38 people who were residents of Kampung Biru Arema. The samples were conducted research using non-probability sampling technique is purposive sampling. Data collected by using two scales, the scale of distress and the psychological well-being scale. The results of this study indicate that adversity has a significant negative influence as a predictor of psychological well-being in communities in Kampung Biru Arema Malang (t hitung= -3,213; p&lt;0.05; R Square = 0,223). This study concludes that individuals who perceive the density as crowding will decrease their psychological well-being.

Etiology and epidemiology of spinal cord injury in Korea

Acute spinal cord injury (SCI) is a catastrophic traumatic event that affects the physical and psychological well-being of individuals and results in considerable socio-economic losses. SCI is an incurable condition; therefore, prevention is critical. Thorough understanding of the epidemiology of SCI is essential to implement optimal preventive measures and effectively plan clinical services. The incidence of SCI was 54 and 40.2 cases per million population in the United States and Japan, respectively; however, national statistical data regarding SCI are unavailable in Korea. Considering that the incidence in Korea is similar to that observed in the United States or Japan, it is estimated that 2,000 to 2,500 new cases of SCI are observed in Korea annually. The male:female ratio is 3:1 to 5:1 in most countries and 3:1 in Korea. More than 50% of patients with SCI are aged &lt;30 years at the time of the injury. However, the incidence of SCI is rapidly increasing in elderly individuals and in women. The most common causes of SCI in descending order of frequency include traffic accidents, falls, sports injuries, and violence. Incomplete injury is increasingly being observed in recent times in contrast to a higher incidence of complete injury reported previously. It is important to establish an accurate comprehensive statistical database in Korea, similar to The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, USA.

Impactos na saúde mental causados pela pandemia de sars-cov-2 e isolamento social: relato de experiência

Pertencente à família Coronaviridae, o Sars-Cov-2 é um vírus envelopado de RNA causador da síndrome respiratória aguda grave. Como medida preventiva à propagação do vírus, a OMS sugere aplicação da quarentena e isolamento social, o que vem implicando na qualidade de vida, tangenciado no bem-estar psicológico dos indivíduos, resultando no aparecimento de stress, medo, ansiedade, pânico, culpa e tristeza, pois esses indícios refletem em sofrimento psíquico e culmina para o surgimento de transtornos psicossomáticos. O presente estudo objetiva relatar a experiência de graduandos em enfermagem na investigação dos impactos da pandemia de Sars-Cov-2 e isolamento social na saúde mental das pessoas. Trata-se de um estudo de abordagem quanti-qualitativa, do tipo relato de experiência, desenvolvido em duas etapas, a saber: 1 - coleta de dados e 2 – discussões de resultados. Dados do estudo revelam que 95,24% dos participantes apresentam ou apresentaram sentimentos negativos causados pelo isolamento social, sendo a preocupação o sentimento de maior impacto. Além deste, estão presentes também o estado de alerta excessivo e a falta de controle emocional, que podem ser originados pelas várias notícias negativas que circulam pelos meios de comunicação, distanciamento de familiares e amigos, quebra da rotina, além das fake news. Diante do exposto, evidencia-se a necessidade e a importância em desenvolver estudos e ações de saúde que venham a contribuir na promoção do autocontrole emocional, a fim de garantir uma boa qualidade de vida em tempos de pandemia e isolamento social.

Providing Immediate Hope to Survivors of Natural Disasters: A Miracle Question Intervention

Natural disasters can greatly impact the physical and psychological well-being of individuals, families, and communities. Experiencing the event is only the beginning of negative outcomes endured by families. The loss of a home, livelihood, possessions, and a sense of safety can cause depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, and a vast array of other psychological challenges. This article proposes the use of the Miracle Question (MQ), an intervention from Solution focused Brief Therapy, for individuals and families recovering from a natural disaster. A case study example will also be provided to demonstrate the empathetic and effective use of the intervention.

PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING OF DRUG ADDICTS IN PREDICTING TREATMENT OUTCOMES

Purpose of the study: This study aims to investigate whether psychological well-being could predict treatment outcomes in drug addicts after they had received solution-based psychosocial intervention in a drug treatment setting. The psychological well-being of individuals is an important variable in discussing treatment outcomes after they were given psychosocial interventions.&#x0D; Methodology: This study utilized a quasi-experimental research design using non-randomized pre-and post-test single group design. Fifty-seven participants were selected and they completed a pre- and post-assessment on psychological well-being changes and treatment outcomes questionnaire. Paired t-test and Pearson correlation were used to analyze the relationship between these two variables, while multiple linear regression was used to further explore whether participants' psychological well-being could predict their treatment outcomes.&#x0D; Main Findings: Results indicated a significant relationship between these two variables and more than twenty percent in treatment outcomes were explained by psychological variance. Few contextual meanings of psychological symptoms should need to be emphasized in discussing the findings and future research direction.&#x0D; Applications of this study: Having studied whether psychological well-being could predict treatment outcomes of drug addicts would benefit counselors and social workers who deal with addiction clients. The element of psychological well-being, such as mental health must be included in the treatment plan to increase the success of recovery amongst drug addict clients.&#x0D; The novelty of this study: The conclusions from this study offer significant insight into the utilization of solution-focused intervention in non-Western populations and the relation between psychological well-being and treatment outcomes for drug addict clients. The findings expand the existing literature review on the psychological well-being of drug addicts in a way it takes into accounts the cultural context in discussing the outcomes.

Plasma lipid profile associates with the improvement of psychological well-being in individuals with perceived stress symptoms

Psychological stress is a suggested risk factor of metabolic disorders, but molecular mediators are not well understood. We investigated the association between the metabolic profiles of fasting plasma and the improvement of psychological well-being using non-targeted liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) platform. The metabolic profiles of volunteers participating in the face-to-face intervention group (n = 60) in a randomised lifestyle intervention were compared to ones of controls (n = 64) between baseline and 36-week follow-up. Despite modest differences in metabolic profile between groups, we found associations between phosphatidylcholines (PCs) and several parameters indicating stress, adiposity, relaxation, and recovery. The relief of heart-rate-variability-based stress had positive, while improved indices of recovery and relaxation in the intervention group had an inverse association with the reduction of e.g. lysophosphatidylcholines (LPC). Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist and adiposity correlated positively with the suppressed PCs and negatively with the elevated plasmalogens PC(P-18:0/22:6) and PC(P-18:0/20:4). Also, we found changes in an unknown class of lipids over time regardless of the intervention groups, which also correlated with physiological and psychological markers of stress. The associations between lipid changes with some markers of psychological wellbeing and body composition may suggest the involvement of these lipids in the shared mechanisms between psychological and metabolic health.

Parasympathetic activity is reduced during slow-wave sleep, but not resting wakefulness, in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Physiological dearousal characterized by an increase in parasympathetic nervous system activity is important for good-quality sleep. Previous research shows that nocturnal parasympathetic activity (reflected by heart rate variability [HRV]) is diminished in individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), suggesting hypervigilant sleep. This study investigated differences in nocturnal autonomic activity across sleep stages and explored the association of parasympathetic activity with sleep quality and self-reported physical and psychological wellbeing in individuals with CFS. Twenty-four patients with medically diagnosed CFS, and 24 matched healthy control individuals participated. Electroencephalography and HRV were recorded during sleep in participants' homes using a minimally invasive ambulatory device. Questionnaires were used to measure self-reported wellbeing and sleep quality. Sleep architecture in patients with CFS differed from that of control participants in slower sleep onset, more awakenings, and a larger proportion of time spent in slow-wave sleep (SWS). Linear mixed-model analyses controlling for age revealed that HRV reflecting parasympathetic activity (normalized high frequency power) was reduced in patients with CFS compared to control participants, particularly during deeper stages of sleep. Poorer self-reported wellbeing and sleep quality was associated with reduced parasympathetic signaling during deeper sleep, but not during wake before sleep, rapid eye movement sleep, or with the proportion of time spent in SWS. Autonomic hypervigilance during the deeper, recuperative stages of sleep is associated with poor quality sleep and self-reported wellbeing. Causal links need to be confirmed but provide potential intervention opportunities for the core symptom of unrefreshing sleep in CFS.

Frozen by stress: Stress increases scope insensitivity.

Stress has become a widely experienced state all around the world, and previous literature has found that stress impacts individuals’ cognition, emotion, coping behaviors and psychological well-being in general. Relatively little is known about how stress influences individuals’ perception of stimuli changes, a ubiquitous phenomenon known as scope sensitivity. In the current work, we explore whether individuals with higher levels of chronic stress are sensitive to stimuli changes, such as price and quantity differences. Two empirical studies consistently show that chronically stressed individuals exhibit scope insensitivity, as they rated the expensiveness of two hotel rooms with different prices as being less different and indicated a smaller difference in their willingness-to-buy five CDs versus ten CDs. Possible explanations and theoretical and practical implications in the broader field are discussed.